Description du lieu patrimonial

Built in 1873, George Street United Church is the oldest Methodist church in St. John’s. It is a stone church built in the Gothic Revival style of architecture by Elijah Hoole. This designation is confined to the footprint of the building.

Valeur patrimoniale

George Street United Church is designated as a Municipal Heritage Building due to its architectural and historical values.

George Street United Church is architecturally valuable as a fine example of a modified Gothic Revival church. Constructed of local stone quarried from the Southside Hills, the entire building is sheathed in concrete. Despite this, many typical Gothic elements remain intact including the pointed arch lancet windows and the large stained glass windows. Furthermore, the interior of this church is architecturally valuable for its well-preserved woodwork. The exposed timber hammerbeam roof of the nave is a typical Gothic element.

George Street United Church is also architecturally valuable for its association with British architect, Elijah Hoole. Hoole was a well known architect whose other works include Gower Street United Church in St. John’s. George Street United Church was built by local master builder William Campbell and locally known mason Richard Atwill.

George Street United Church is historically valuable as the oldest Methodist Church in St. John’s. Built in 1873, George Street United Church is one of the only churches in the downtown area to survive the Great Fire of 1892. This Church is also historically valuable because on August 5, 1874 it was the site of the Organizational Assembly of the First Methodist Conference. Up until this point, Newfoundland had been a district of the Conference of Eastern British America. Reverend George Mulligan, as Superintendent Minister of the St. John’s circuit and the principal minister of George Street Church, was elected first President of the new conference at this meeting.

Source: City of St. John's, meeting held 1989/07/21

Éléments caractéristiques

All those elements that are representative of the ecclesiastical Gothic Revival style of architecture, including:
-stained glass windows;
-hammerbeam roof;
-interior woodwork;
-stone construction;
-concrete sheathing;
-turrets at West end of church;
-kicked eaves; and,
-cruciform layout.